LETTER TO STEVE W. HERMES FROM WILLIAM J. HAMILL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01152R001001240010-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 21, 1985
• Content Type: LETTER

(b)(3)
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NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND 20755
Chief, Legislative Division
Office of Legislative Liaison
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear
Serial: AGC/0091-85,ger
21 May 1985
(b)(3)
This responds to your request for comments on the deletion of
the proposed Drug and Alcohol Abuse Provisions from the Draft
Intelligence Authorization Act for FY86. The potential problem
that this deletion creates at NSA arises out of the requirements
for NSA employment contained in Public Law 88-290 (50 U.S.C. SS
831-833). This statute mandates that persons employed at, assigned
to or detailed to NSA be cleared for access to Sensitive Compart-
mented Information (SCI). As you know, both drug abuse and alcohol
abuse may disqualify an individual from such access under the
guidelines for SCI access promulgated by the DCI.
The NSA drug policy is a policy of strict prohibition based
upon those adjudication guidelines. Thus, the improper use of
drugs by persons currently cleared for SCI access at NSA is grounds
for suspension of access and referral for termination of employment.
Such drug abuse is viewed not only as a violation of law but also
as an act that reflects adversely upon a person's capability to
exercise the care, discretion and judgment required to protect SCI
information. The proposed provision (S 404) is needed to preserve
the ability of NSA, consistent with P.L. 88-290, to take adverse
action when drug abuse is discovered among SCI-cleared personnel.
The NSA alcohol abuse policy is more flexible because the SCI
adjudication guidelines allow for a greater exercise of discretion
in this area. Thus, NSA does have a voluntary alcohol rehabilita-
tion program that offers assistance to individuals whose alcohol-
related problems are not serious enough to warrant suspension of
SCI access. The program consists of individual and group counseling
sessions for persons who acknowledge their alcohol abuse problems.
The NSA policy also includes educating and training managers and
supervisors on alcohol abuse to aid them in identifying potential
problems and making appropriate referrals and educating the
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general NSA population (and their families when feasible)
concerning alcohol 'abuse programs and effective measures to deal
with problems associated with alcohol abuse.
Notwithstanding this policy, NSA must retain the discretion
to consider the facts and circumstances surrounding a person's
pattern of alcohol abuse to determine whether suspension of SCI
access and termination of employment are appropriate. Thus we
support your efforts to add Section 404 to the FY86 Intelligence
Authorization Act.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. HAMILL
Assistant General Counsel
Administration
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